RTF Helicopters, Are They Really "Ready To Fly"?

By:Tara Soonthornnont

Electric RC Helicopters have enjoyed a sudden rise in popularity due to recent significant improvements in the radio-control and electronics industry. As their components improve in quality while at the same time getting cheaper in price, many manufacturers launch beginner models labeled as RTF or "Ready to Fly"- but are they really?

In fact, the phrase "Ready to fly" was born in the days of more "traditional" RC aviation. What it actually meant, at least initially, was "required no assembly". It didn't mean that RTF kits didn't require set-ups, tuning, or tinkering before it could take to the air.

Nowadays, however, new pilots just starting out with this hobby expect their new model that comes labeled as "flying right out of the box" to do just that. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Very often, beginner pilots realize that RTF helicopters are not so "ready to fly" when they learn that keeping them in the air is quite difficult, especially for four channel models. While there are co-axle models available which are relatively easier to handle, they too require hours of training.

Also, these helicopters with their rotor blades spinning at extremely fast speeds can cause serious injuries. Therefore, no one would want an out-of-control helicopter of any size in their vicinity. Many would soon conclude that even for these RTF fliers, the best approach is to first learn in a simulator. This fact alone means that even easiest to fly RTF helicopter requires practice, and often times, lots of it - upsetting the very concept of "flying right out of the box".

RTF Helicopters doesn't always come with everything you need to fly as most people would think either. The most common missing component is the battery back for the radio controller - they usually come with a battery rack that requires 4 to 8 AA alkaline batteries. More serious fliers usually end up buying a rechargeable pack not long after their initial purchase of the kit.

Another popular missing component is a battery charger. These RTF kit usually comes with very rudimentary adaptor that you can plug right into your battery pack, which by all accounts, doesn't constitute a "charger". They don't even cut the electrical flow when the battery is full (which, by the way, may lead to over charging and ultimately, the explosion of the battery pack). In fact, many find it ironic that these RTF kits include a battery pack but no charger.

Not until very recently has this issue been addressed and few very new models (such as the LAMA IV by Esky) come complete with an adequate charger.

Nevertheless, there are some helicopters that are truly "ready to fly" right out of the box. These are the 2-channel models such as famous Picoo Z. Not only are they ready to fly, they are palm-size, allowing for them to be flown just about anywhere that is windless. These little fliers are also pretty durable, enabling them to withstand crashes after crashes. However, they are much less maneuverable than four-channel models.

All in all, there are many kinds of RTF kits and some are more "ready to fly" than others. Those who want models to work seamlessly right out of the box can settle for 2 channel models, compromising maneuverability. On the other hand, those who want more flight-capable models may go for 4 channel models, only to find that they are not as ready to fly as advertised. Nevertheless, these RTF kits provides a great lesson for enthusiasts new to this hobby; one that teaches them to fly as well as to endlessly enjoy setting up, modifying, and upgrading their models.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: RTF Helicopter, RC Helicopter, Electric RC Helicopter, RC, Helicopter

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Radio-controlled aviation is a fascinating hobby. Learn all about its newest and fastest growing sector, electric RC helicopters at http://www.electric-rc-helicopter.com.

Top Hobbies Articles
1). Are you addicted to scrapbooking? By : Rita Hutner Many who suddenly get the scrapbooking bug say they started when they realized that so few pictures were taken of them as cute little tykes - and they want to make things better for their own children. What ever the reason, scrapbooking has become a big business. There are estimates that over 4 million people, almost all of them women, gather for "crop-alongs" or "power layouts" every month! All these people are on the lookout for new and exciting scrapbooking ideas and share their thoughts and techniques on how to create that perfect keepsake.
2). Orchid Care - Phaleanopsis Orchids By : Yale Bernstein --An introduction to Phalaenopsis orchids. Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. The name "phalaenopsis" comes from the Greek phalaina, meaning "moth" and opsis, meaning "like". For this reason this orchid goes by the nick name "Moth Orchid". These orchids are very easy to grow and flower as long as care is given to recreate their natural growing environment as much as possible.
3). Doyles Room Spokesman Wins Cardplayer Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award By : Sage Kalmus He's been called the Godfather of Poker. He's the Texas Dolly. He's won more tournaments than this writer has years to his name. He's written the seminal book on Texas Hold'em strategy. He's the spokesman of Doyles Room, one of the internet's most popular online poker rooms. His name is Doyle Brunson. And as of February 15, 2006, he's got another claim to fame.
4). History of Candle Making By : Coffee Man Who invented the candle? Candles were invented independently in many countries. The Egyptians and Cretans made candles from beeswax, about 3000 BC. In the fourth century BC there were clay candle holders in Egypt. Qui Shi Huang (259 - 210 BC) was the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). His mausoleum was rediscovered in the 1990s 22 miles east of Xi'an in China and contained candles made from whale fat.
5). Which pool table? By : Jeff King There are a few things to consider when purchasing a pool table that have an effect on the price and quality of your table and therefore, your game. Note that the term �pool tables� refers to the table used to play billiards, snooker, and all other cue-sports similar to this. The differences between these games are the rules and sets of balls used, not the table itself.
6). Genealogy as a Hobby to Trace the Roots and History of Family By : James Hunt Genealogy is becoming more popular as a hobby for those people that are interested in tracing the roots and history of their family. It may start with looking at a few old photos of unknown family members standing at an unknown landmark...
7). Challenge Coin Display Cases And Challenge Coins Tips By : Paton Jackson I find it amazing that the interest and popularity of challenge coins and challenge coin displays keeps rising. I get many questions about military challenge coins so I have decided to gather some valuable tips for you. The most popular challenge coins are navy challenge coins, marine corps challenge coins, army challenge coins, air force challenge coins and police challenge coins.
8). The Lincoln Cent � Part 3 � The Many Changes By : Keith Scott No real changes occurred in the cent from 1918 through 1942. In 1943, the cent would again see a dramatic change although not to its design, but rather due to shortages of copper caused by the war. At the time of World War II, the one-cent coin was composed of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. These metals were denied to the Mint for the duration of the war, making it necessary for the Mint to seek a substitute material.
9). Skydive To The End By : James Monahan A skydiver usually travels at the speed of 12,000 feet or 4000 meters altitude and free falling from the sky.
10). Live or Fake Bait? By : Ty Wagner Choosing fake bait over live bait and how the two can get better results in different conditions.

New Hobbies Articles
1). Why The Hobby Of Model Building Continues To Be Popular By : Gregg Hall The hobby of building models has been a fun activity for fathers and sons for years. The popularity continues to expand today, and there are more variations of models to build than ever before.
2). Perfect Timing for Shooting By : Mitch Johnson "Leading" or shooting ahead of moving game is usually thought of in connection with shotguns and wing shooting, but it is sometimes important with the rifle while shooting deer. Learn some tips on the timing for shooting.
3). What you need to know To Avoid Hunting Human Beings By : Mitch Johnson In some occasion there is accident which happened unintentionally, which caused the live of others human being. But it can be prevented. In this article you will find some direction on how to prevent this accident.
4). Effective Times to Hunt Deer By : Mitch Johnson One of the things, which a hunter must realize when he go for hunting, is that he must respect some restriction given by the land owner where he hunt the deer.
5). Tips on How to Get the Best Shot on Target By : Mitch Johnson Sometimes the hunter is too hurrying to give a shoot which caused him missing his target. What is the best thing for him to do to get the right shot on the target?
6). Things to Remember When Shooting From Vehicles By : Mitch Johnson What has been experience hunting on vehicles? Have you been able to sight deer from the vehicles better or by approaching them walking?
7). What You Can Do With Your Hunted Deer By : Mitch Johnson Hunting the deer nowadays has become a commercial business, where people are hunting the deer to be sold.
8). Karaoke Machine Buying Guide By : John Morris The word karaoke, often mispronounced with a long e at the end instead of a short one, originated from a Japanese word meaning empty orchestra...
9). How To Lose Distance By : Robert Partain This article contains tips on what not to do if you want to improve your distance in golf.
10). How to Avoid Shooting Human Beings By : Mitch Johnson How do we prevent shooting other hunters or being shot? Sometimes in a forest or woods area, it is quite impossible to see where the others hunters are located.

� 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy